Charlie Springer arrived nearly three weeks ago now, a rescue dog, about 18 months old. Having been in a foster home, I was told his recall was non-existent, so armed with an extending lead off we set. Now, I work in an office on a farm, where there is a five acre field that is totally enclosed with 8ft high secure fencing, a perfect place for our first attemps at setting Charlie free.

To begin with, he just ran & ran, as you would expect. Then I would call him to follow me & Benji as we walked around the field. Although he wouldn't come to us, he kept coming back to find us. So far so good. Next we tried food to tempt him, just giving him a treat when he came, telling him he was a really good boy, but not attempting to catch him. (I can grab him at the gate when it's time to go) Getting better! Then we could leave the field, Charlie still of the lead, catching him before we got back to the farmyard. Great!!

Finally, today, for our lunchtime walk, we reached the stage that when I left the office with both dogs to go to the secure field, about 1/4 mile away, they were both off leads and Charlie, charging about like a loonie, came to the field, ran about for half an hour, coming when I called for the odd treat! Fantastic Cracked it

Then we set off back for the office Charlie! Charlie!! CHARLIE!!!

Straight through the farmyard, past the office, down a track to....... The dirtiest, smelliest, slimiest ditch you have ever seen

Half an hour later, the farmer's son managed to grab him and pull him from the water/mud/slime Who'd have a Springer

Anyone got any suggestions?

I know this doesn't help But HAHAHAHAHA sorry I couldn't help it.

As for help.... My suggestions is keep going back to square one... and try and try again.

LOL - I know that feeling, Stellar's recall is wonderful but... sometimes she takes just a few seconds longer to appear from behind the hedge - and this is why!



the girl is addicted to cow poo

- sounds like you are doing all the right things - so good luck! (and remember your camera at all times )

I love this pic! no matter how bad my day has been i look at this and it makes me laugh!!!

He sounds like my Jack. Everytime they go for their walk the 2 girls come back clean, if there is a patch of mud anywhere Jack will find it and lay in it. Sorry can't be of any help. Back to basics I think.

not sure I can help with this one but I do want to know how come you've got an 8 foot high secured field and you aren't renting it out for Springer walks?????!!!!!!!!!!!

i agree!!! i need one of those kind of fields for my sammy

**wanders off to google the cost of buying a field**

If I owned the field, it would be FULL of Sringers Sadly, it's not mine

don't worry about small details like that!

I've got 280 acres for my 2 loons! ......

maybe its because he got very hot?
My charley's will head for any water lake/puddle if he has been on a long walk or been in the car on a long drive

I would really like to think that that was the reason, but this is a drainage ditch (we are on reclaimed land with a high water table) about 50 feet long before it goes into a tunnel, and about 6 feet wide. At this time the depth is about 3 ft. The stuff that goes in there is quite disgusting the water is a slimy grey texture, very gloopy, and he spent half an hour swimming up and down. When he did climb out it was on the opposite bank that is fenced in, where I couldn't reach him.Then he'd bark gleefully and leap back in, splashing the goo everywhere.

Even after two washes, he still stank

My initial panic was that he would try to go up the tunnel, which was under the water/goo, as he kept diving under near to the entrance. I suspect he was after rats or something equally horrid

There must have been something bad in the goo, coz last night he kept scrathing his ears...they looked really sore. I used a soothing ear wash on them, and it seemed to get better

Thanks Sue, for the tip. Have PM'd you